The Meaning of Being "Lucky"

Does Luck Really Exist?

Keith was a normal guy with an average life and 9 to 5 job. He seems to believe that something is going wrong with his life. Everything that he has done lately has had a bad ending for him.

Last week he broke up with his girlfriend, Amanda. Although they had been together for over a year, Amanda told him repeatedly that there were some “bad vibes” around him and that they’d better take different paths for a while. She didn’t want to be “contaminated” with his bad luck.

Keith has kept those words in his mind for a while and has attributed several strange happenings in his life to his “bad vibes:”

1. he lost his gold watch when he went clubbing about a week ago; he doesn’t know how he lost it.

2. He has gotten to work late every day for two weeks due to traffic jams. His boss is not happy with this behavior although he is a good worker.

3. He went gambling with some co-workers, and he was the only one who lost every dime that night.

4. His grades in night school are getting worse and worse. He doesn’t feeling like studying and has neglected doing his homework and projects.

“What is happening with my life?” that’s what he is asking himself every minute of the day. “Is bad luck watching every step of my way?” “If you don’t do anything with your life to stop this bad luck, everything will go down the drain!” said to Amanda before she left.

Keith has made up his mind and decided to visit a fortune-teller in his town and a counselor in the company he is working for. He is in real need of help because he believes that his life is going nowhere. And all of this is happening after he read this print-out that Amanda sent him this morning.

What should Keith do?

If you were his friend and had been told about his intentions of visiting the fortune-teller and the office counselor, what would you tell him to do?

But before you voice your opinion on his “bad luck,” please answer the following questions:

1) How would you define what luck is? Can we label people as “lucky” or “unlucky?” Why or why not?

2) Are all Keith’s latest happenings attributable to his bad luck? How can you explain what has happened to him in regards to:

a. His gold watch’s loss?

b. His lateness for work?

c. His losses at the casino?

d. His broken relationship with Amanda?

e. His bad grades in school?

3) Do any of Keith’s “bad moments of no luck” have a life history? Is this a way to explain his “lack of luck?” Explain your answer.

4) What do you think of the law of probability? Can it explain what happens in any person’s life when talking about bad luck?

5) Do you believe in lucky strikes? Or these moments of extreme “luckiness” are just a matter of perspective? Is being lucky a state of mind? Justify your answers.

6) How much does superstition play in understanding “luck?” Does Keith look like a superstitious person? Explain your answers, please.

Our Final Forethought

Now that you have considered the answers to these questions and listened to your group partners, what seems to be the best solution for Keith? Should he go to the fortune-teller’s office for some advice? Does he better need the assistance of the office counselor? Or should he find help some other place?

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Additional Readings to Consider

Murphy's Laws Site:

http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-laws.html

Does Luck Exist? Is it a State of Mind?

http://www.neurope.eu/articles/Does-Luck-exist-or-Is-it-a-state-of-mind/82805.php

Getting Lucky: Does Luck Truly Exist?

http://www.barsmart.com/columns.cfm?cid=436409B1-DE4A-6130-5534139D13607F1F

Slang Expressions and Idioms

Language Recognition Practice

Part 1

Common Slang Expressions

INSTRUCTIONS: Jot down at least six to seven very common slang expressions used in your native language. If you have a different "dialect," make sure that you also translate your common expressions into the mainstream dialect used by most members in your class. After you have jotted down the expressions, work with a partner and find proper and accurate correspondences in English.

Part 2

Idiomatic Expressions in English

INSTRUCTIONS: Below you are presented with a series of common idiomatic expressions in English. With the help of a partner, define the following expressions. Try to find an easier way to explain them to the members in your class.

• to have second thoughts
• to be chickened out
• to drop by someone's place
• to run into
• to get up the nerve to do something
• to go nuts
• to be in the same boat
• chances are ...
• to tie the knot
• to be glued to the tube

If you don't know the meaning of any of the above expressions, feel free to ask other people. Make sure to use English at all times.

Slang and its Interaction with Language

Case Study 1: Slang in the EFL/ESL Class

SITUATION: Mr. Kevin Smith has been appointed EFL/ESL instructor for a group of young adults who will be participating in an exchange program in the United States next year. Mr. Smith will be working on the students' language development for the next few moths to shape their language skills: reading, speaking, writing, and listening.

During the first two weeks of class, Mr. Smith discovered that his students' level of English is quite satisfactorily and looks forward to expanding their vocabulary and skills way beyond what he expected at the beginning of the program.However, in the speaking section of the course, through one of the book units, the group was confronted to slang language, and they reviewed the following definition provided by Mr. Smith.

Most of the class members have voiced their disposition to work on slang expressions that may be of good use while being exchange students in the US. Mr. Smith is kind of reluctant to take time of his speaking class to teach what he calls "bad language."

What should be done in this particular EFL/ESL class case?

Consider answering the following questions before you voice your final opinion.

1. How do you feel about the usage of slang in your native language or in a foreign tongue? Do you feel comfortable using that kind of language?
2. What's the difference between "slang" and "mainstream" language? Are these language variations similar?
3. Why do you think "slang" is not a priority for EFL/ESL teachers? Should slang be taught as part of a course curriculum?
4. How would "colloquial" language be defined as apposed to slang? Should this language variation be overtly taught in language classes?
5. As a language learner, would it be advisable to learn slang instead of formal English? (What's your viewpoint?)
6. Why do you think slang is considered "taboo" in more formal contexts? Do your particularly use slang in your native language? Who do you use it with?
7. What's the difference among "street talk," "youth-speak," and slang? Who's more likely to use "street talk?"

Now after you have considered the answers to the above questions, what's your final verdict in regards to overtly teaching slang in English as a Foreign Language classes. Should Mr.Smith work on those language areas suggested by most of the students in his language class?